Schweizer



March 17, 1964 Filed Aug. 7, 1961 G. SCHWEIZER SAFETY HEEL SKI BINDING :s sheets-Sheet 1 March 17, 1964 G. SCHWEIZER 3,125,349 SAFETY. HEEL sx1 BINDING Filed Aug. 7, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 17, 1964 G. scHwElzER SAFETY HEEL sx1 BINDING Filed Aug. 7, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 www MM?" MMM/ La@ United States Patent O 3,125,349 SAFETY HEEL SKI BINDING Gottfried Schweizer, Vienna, Austria, assigner to Wiener Metallwarenund Sehnallenfabrik Schar-Smolka, Vienna, Austria, a rm Fiied Aug. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 130,713 Claims priority, application Austria Oct. 20, 1960 16 Claims. (Cl. 280-11.35)

The invention relates to a safety heel ski binding which when the user steps with his boot into the binding automatically secures the binding to the boot and which can be opened at will, for example by slight pressure with a ski pole. According to the invention a spur, engaging the boot heel from below, and a holding down means. engaging the heel from the top, are hinged to cooperate with each other. According to another feature of the invention the spur and the holding down means are constructed as levers with different pivots. According to the invention the spur and the holding down means are coupled together; they form an articulate rectangle with a guide articulated bracket, the coupling of the rectangle forming part of the holding down means.

In the accompanying drawing various embodiments of the invention are shown by way of example.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 the basic structure of this safety heel ski binding is schematically shown. In FIG. 3 a practical embodiment of this structure is shown partly in section. FIG. 4 shows a yplan view of the casing yaccording to FIG. 3, the holding down means together with the straps being left out. In FIGS. 5 and 6 side views and plan views of further structural details are shown. The part on the right of FIG. 6 is a section along the line VI-VI of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 shows how the safety heel ski binding cooperates with a safety strap, while FIG. 8 shows a structure where a longitudinal strap is applied. Further details are shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and l1. FIG. l1 is a section taken along line XI--XI of FIG. 10. In FIG. 12 a slightly different basic structure of the locking device is shown.

In the schematic diagram according to FIG. 1 the boot heel is indicated at 1 which in use is rmly held between the spur 2 and the holding down part 3. There is also a coupling 4 which is firmly connected with the holding down part 3. Therefore the parts 3 and 4 form a rigid elbow. The lower part of the coupling 4 is linked at 5 with an articulated bracket 11, the front part of which carries the spur 2. The elements 2 and 11 are a single piece.

The part of the articulated bracket 11, which in FIG. l forms its right end, is carried in the casing 18 at point 6. 9 is an articulated bracket which is also carried in the casing 18 at point '7. Between these two bearing points 6 and 7 is arranged one arm of an angle lever 12. It further appears from FIG. l that the articulated bracket 9 is linked at its end 8, opposite to 7, to the coupling 4.

The coupling 4 carries a sliding and rolling part 15, which cooperates with a nose 14 of the shorter lever arm of the angle lever 12. Furthermore, the angle lever 12 is loaded by a plate spring 13 on its longer lever arm. The initial stress in the spring 13 can be adjusted suitably by a setting screw 16, arranged in the casing. It is understood, that the angle lever 12 also is also pivoted at '7.

In this position ready for use according to FIG. l the boot heel 1 is fixed between the parts 2 and 3. During lifting the boot heel 1 will bear with an upper portion thereof against the holding down part 3, which cannot move, because the articulation rectangle, defined by the points 5, 6, 7, and 8, is locked at 14, 15. This locking is produced by the nose 14 pressing against the rolling part 15. As stated above, this pressure is exerted by the `length of the ski.

ice

spring 13. The nose 14 and the gliding and rolling part 15 are formed and arranged in a manner known per se in such a way that the locking device at 14, 15 will yield when a certain large force is exerted upwards against the holding down part 3. This may occur in practice, for example due to a fall.

The manner of releasing the boot heel from the safety heel ski binding is explained by FIG. 2. The locking between 14 and 15 is released. The roller 15 then can yield upwards, whereby the angle lever 12 can swing counterclockwise round point 7. In the course of further releasing the articulate rectangle 5, 6, 7, 8 is moved into the position shown in FIG. 2. Considering that the articulated bracket 9 is shorter than the articulated bracket 11, the holding down parts 3 and 4, when moved upwards, also yield somewhat backwards (in FIG. 2 to the right hand side) with the consequence that the mouth formed by the spur 2 and the holding down part 3 opens and facilitates release of the boot heel 1.

It is pointed out again that the degree of the locking between 14 and 15 is determined by the initial stress of the spring 13. By a screw 16, provided for that purpose, adjustment of an adequate locking between 14 and 15 and consequently of the degree of safety can be controlled.

As soon as the safety heel ski binding is in a position according to FIG. 2, the operating position as shown in FIG. 1, easily can be obtained by stepping in and pressing down the spur 2 by means of the boot heel 1.

If opening of the safety heel ski binding is desired, pressure may be exerted on the unlocking lever 17 through an opening 19 of the casing 18, for example by a ski pole 20. The angle lever 12 is then turned counterclockwise through the short lever as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 on the left hand side, leading to the unlocking at 14 and 15. Thereupon it is possible to step out from the safety ski binding.

Considering the herewith given explanation it may not be necessary to explain the practical structure according to FIG. 3. It is understood that the same reference numerals are used for corresponding structural elements as in the schematic illustration of FIGS. 1 and 2. The spring 13 of the construction of FIG. 3 is put round a bolt 33 fastened in the casing. The rolling part 15 of FIG. 3 is arranged on the articulated bracket 11 and not, as shown schematically in FIGS. l and 3, on the :coupling 4. This does not amount to a functional dissimilarity. Beyond the details shown in the schematic illustration the holding down part 3 is slideable up and down along the coupling 4 as shown in FIG. 3, for adjustment at the binding to boot heels of different height. This displacement and fixing may be carried out for example by a screw pinion, not shown in the drawing. The holding down part according to the construction of FIG. 3 has loops 10 for passing straps therethrough. The side walls of the casing 1S as shown in FIG. 3 are formed at the rear bottom end thereof with a plurality of steps 29.

In FIG. 4 only a plan view of the casing 18 is shown, all movable parts as well as parts 3 and 10 having been left out.

The casing 18 is not firmly bound to the ski, but arranged in a track 21, so as to be adjustable along the The track 21 is provided with rack portions 22, best shown in FIG. 6, and a plate 27 having circular toothed edge portions 23 meshing with the teeth of the rack portion 22 is arranged between the latter. The plate 27 is pivotally arranged on a pin 26 projecting upwardly from a plate Sti slidably guided in longitudinal direction of the ski in the track 21. A coil spring 24 is arranged between the casing 18 and plate 50 which is biased to press the casing 18 relative to the plate Sti toward the left, as viewed in FIG. 5, in engagement with the heel of a ski boot. The coil spring 24 is connected at opposite ends thereof to a pair of plugs 51 and 52, respectively. The plug 52 is pivotally connected at 53 to a support projecting upwardly from plate 50 fixedly connected thereto, while the plug 51 is provided with a central threaded bore into which the threaded end of a screw 25 engages which is turnably mounted in a rear portion of the casing 18. It is obvious that by turning the screw 25 about its axis, the tension of the spring 24 may be adjusted.

The purpose of the rack portions 22 and the teeth 23, on plate 27, as shown and described, is to adjust the binding to boots of different size, this being done byacross arm 34, provided with clouts 35, projecting laterally from the casing. When the binding has to be adjusted to a certain boot size, both clouts 35 are taken with two fingers. Thereupon the crossarm 34 with the toothed segment plate 27 is lifted against the force of the spring 28 which presses arm 34 and plate 27 in downward direction to maintain teeth 23 in engagement with the teeth of the rack portion 22, to the effect that the toothed gearing comes out of gear. Now the whole casing 18 within the track can be pushed towards the proper position. When now the clouts 35 are freed, the toothed segment plate 27 will be forced down under the inuence of the spring 28. When a tooth of 23 is opposite a gap of 22, meshing will occur immediately at the proper place. If however a tooth 23 is opposite a tooth of 22, meshing will be obtained by a slight swinging of the crossarm 34. The described construction of adjustment and of gearing is practically infinitely variable.

FIG. illustrates the gearing mechanism When not used. The windings of the spring 24 then in effect are well set one close to the other. After stepping with a boot heel 1 in the binding a backward pressure will be exerted against the casing 18, whereby the spring 24 is lengthened and stretched. As a consequence of this backward movement of the casing the actually associated section is gliding over the cross arm 34, preventing in that way effectively an unwanted disconnection between the teeth on members 22 and 27. In the position of usage, the ski boot is held firmly, and the gearing 22, 23 cannot be unlocked.

The adjustment to different boot sizes has been described above. The adjustment to different curves of the boot heel is also possible with the embodiments according to FIGS. 9, and 11. According to FIG. 9 ribbed projections 36 are arranged on the holding down part 3, against which any boot heel can be placed regardless of its configuration. According to the embodiments of FIGS. 10 and 11 shoulders 37 are provided at this point, pivoted at 38 on the holding down part 3. It is obvious that by such shoulders adjustment to differently curved boot heels is possible. The parts 36 and 37 respectively also can be made from elastic material (for example from rubber or plastic material.

According to FIG. 7 the ski boot 39 is fixedly connected with the ski by a safety strap 30. The safety strap is put through the loops 10.

FIG. 8 illustrates a binding with longitudinal straps, where again the long strap 31 is put through the loops 10. A holding plate 32 assures that the crossing point 40 of the long strap 31 remains always essentially at the same point. By this long strap 31 the ankle parts are strengthened and supported effectively.

FIG. 12 is self explanatory. Here a toggle lever structure is provided instead of the angle lever 12 of FIGS. l to 3. The shorter arm of the unlocking lever 17 is now formed as one part of a toggle joint; the other part is formed by the link 41. A rocking lever 43 is provided with a nose 14 engaging roller 15 and is linked at 42 to the link 41 and at its upper end linked at 7 to the lever 9, which in turn is linked at 8 to member 4 in the Same manner as shown in FIG. 3.

I claim:

1. In a safety ski binding, in combination, a support adapted to be connected to a ski; an upper ski boot heel engaging means having a front end portion adapted to engage a top rim of a heel of a ski boot; a lower elongated heel engaging means having a front end portion adapted to engage a bottom surface of the heel; first pivot means pivotally connecting the rear end of said lower elongated heel engaging means to said support and mounting said lower elongated heel engaging means tiltable between a holding position in which said front end portion thereof extends substantially parallel to and abuts against the top face of the ski and a releasing position in which said front end portion thereof is raised from and upwardly inclined to the top face; a lever pivotally connected at one end thereof to said upper heel engaging means; second pivot means located forwardly of said first pivot means for pivotally connecting the other end of said lever to said support; and connecting means forming part of said upper ski boot heel engaging means and extending rearwardly of said front end portion thereof toward said lower elongated heel engaging means and being pivotally connected at the lower end thereof to the latter for holding said front end portion of said upper heel engaging means in a holding position substantially parallel to said front end portion of said lower heel engaging means and spaced therefrom a distance substantially equal to that of the height of the heel, when said lower heel engaging means is in said holding position thereof, and for moving, in cooperation with said lever, said front end portion of said upper heel engaging means together with said lower heel engaging means to a releasing position in which said front end portion of said upper heel engaging means is upwardly inclined to the top face of the ski at an angle greater than that of said lower heel engaging means and rearwardly withdrawn with respect to the front end portion of said lower heel engaging means.

2. In a safety ski binding, in combination, a support adapted to be connected to a ski; an upper ski boot heel engaging means having a front end portion adapted to engage a top rim of a heel of a ski boot; a lower elongated heel engaging means having a front end portion adapted to engage a bottom surface of the heel; first pivot means pivotally connecting the rear end of said lower elongated heel engaging means to said support and mounting said lower elongated heel engaging means tiltable between a holding position in which said front end portion thereof extends substantially parallel to and abuts against the top face of the ski and a releasing position in which said front end portion thereof is raised from and upwardly inclined to the top face; a lever pivotally connected at one end thereof to said upper heel engaging means; second pivot means located forwardly of said first pivot means for pivotally connecting the other end of said lever to said support; connecting means forming part of said upper ski boot heel engaging means and extending rearwardly of said front end portion thereof toward said lower elongated heel engaging means and being pivotally connected at the lower end thereof to the latter for holding said front end portion of said upper heel engaging means in a holding position substantially parallel to said front end portion of said lower heel engaging means and spaced therefrom a distance substantially equal to that of the height of the heel, when said lower heel engaging means is in said holding position thereof, and for moving, in cooperation with said lever, said front end portion of said upper heel engaging means together with said lower heel engaging means to a releasing position in which said front end portion of said upper heel engaging means is upwardly inclined to the top face of the ski at an angle greater than that of said lower heel engaging means and rearwardly withdrawn with respect to the front end portion of said lower heel engaging means; and releasable locking means mounted on said support movable between a locking position in which said locking means engages one of said heel engaging means for holding said upper and lower heel engaging means in said holding position, and an unlocking position freeing said upper and lower heel engaging means for movement from said holding to said releasing position.

3. In a safety Ski binding, in combination, a support adapted to be connected to a ski; an upper ski boot heel engaging means having a front end portion adapted to engage a top rim of a heel of a ski boot; a lower elongated heel engaging means having a front end portion adapted to engage a bottom surface of the heel; rst pivot means pivotally connecting the rear end of said lower elongated heel engaging means to said support and mounting said lower elongated heel engaging means tiltable between a holding position in which said front end portion thereof extends substantially parallel to and abuts against the top face of the ski and a releasing position in which said front end portion thereof is raised from and upwardly inclined to the top face; a lever pivotally connected at one end thereof to said upper heel engaging means; second pivot means located forwardly of said first pivot means for pivotally connecting the other end of said lever to said support; connecting means forming part of said upper ski boot heel engaging means and extending rearwardly of said front end portion thereof toward said lower elongated heel engaging means and being pivotally connected at the lower end thereof to the latter for holding said front end portion of said upper heel engaging means in a holding position substantially parallel to said front end portion of said lower heel engaging means and spaced therefrom a distance substantially equal to that of the height of the heel, when said lower heel engaging means is in said holding position thereof, and for moving, in cooperation with said lever, said front end portion of Vsaid upper heel engaging means together with said lower heel engaging means to a releasing position in which said front end portion of said upper heel engaging means is upwardly inclined to the top face of the ski at an angle greater than that of said lower heel engaging means and rearwardly withdrawn with respect to the front end portion of said lower heel engaging means; and releasable locking means for releasably locking said heel engaging means in said holding position and including abutment means mounted on one of said heel engaging means, and

lever means mounted on said support tiltable between a locking position engaging said abutment means for maintaining said heel engaging means in said holding position and an unlocking position permitting movement of said heel engaging means to said releasing position.

4. An arrangement as defined in claim 3, in which said abutment means is in form of a roller.

5. An arrangement as defined in claim 3, in which said lever means is in form of a crank lever mounted on said support tiltable about a pivot axis coinciding with that of said secondy pivot means.

6. An arrangement as defined in claim 3 in which said lever means includes a toggle lever mounted on said support tiltable about a pivot axis coinciding with that of said first pivot means.

7. In a safety ski binding, in combination, a support adapted to be connected to a ski; an upper ski boot heel engaging means having a front end portion adapted to engage a top rim of a heel of a ski boot; a lower elongated heel engaging means having a front end portion adapted to engage a bottom surface of the heel; rst pivot means pivotally connecting the rear end of said lower elongated heel engaging means to said support and mounting said lower elongated heel engaging means tiltable between a holding position in which said front end portion thereof extends substantially parallel to and abuts against the top face of the ski and a releasing position in which said front end portion thereof is raised from and upwardly inclined to the top face; a lever pivotally connected at one end thereof to said upper heel engaging means; second pivot means located forwardly of said first pivot means for pivotally connecting the other end of said lever to said support; connecting means forming part of said upper ski boot heel engaging means and extending rearwardly of said front end portion thereof toward said lower elongated heel engaging means and being pivotally connected at the lower end thereof to the latter for holding said front end portion of said upper heel engaging means in a holding position substantially parallel to said front end portion of said lower heel engaging means and spaced therefrom a distance substantially equal to that of the height of the heel, when said lower heel engaging means is in said holding position thereof, and for moving, in cooperation with said lever, said front end portion of said upper heel engaging means together with said lower heel engaging means to a releasing position in which said front end portion of said upper heel engaging means is upwardly inclined to the top face of the ski at an angle greater than that of said lower heel engaging means and rearwardly withdrawn with respect to the front end portion of said lower heel engaging means; and releasable locking means for releasably locking said heel engaging means in said holding position and including abutment means mounted on one of said heel engaging means, lever means mounted on said support tiltable between a locking position engaging said abutment means for maintaining said heel engaging means in said holding position and an unlocking position permitting movement of said heel engaging means to said releasing position, and spring means engaging said lever means and biased to keep said locking means in said locking position.

8. In a safety ski binding, in combination, a support adapted to be connected to a ski; an upper ski boot heel engaging means having a front end portion adapted to engage a top rim of a heel of a ski boot; a lower elongated heel engaging means having a front end portion adapted to engage a bottom surface of the heel; first pivot means pivotally connecting the rear end of said lower elongated heel engaging means to said support and mounting said lower elongated heel engaging means tiltable between a holding position in which said front end portion thereof extends substantially parallel to and abuts against the top face of the ski and a releasing position in which said front end portion thereof is raised from and upwardly inclined to the top face; a lever pivotally connected at one end thereof to said upper heel engaging means; second pivot means located forwardly of said first pivot means for pivotally connecting the other end of said lever to said support; connecting means forming part of said upper ski boot heel engaging means and extending rearwardly of said front end portion thereof toward said lower elongated heel engaging means and being pivotally connected at the lower end thereof to the latter for holding said front end portion of said upper heel engaging means in a holding position substantially parallel to said front end portion of said lower heel engaging means and spaced therefrom a distance substantially equal to that of the height of the heel, when said lower heel engaging means is in said holding position thereof, and for moving, in cooperation with said lever, said front end portion of said upper heel engaging means together with said lower heel engaging means to a releasing position in which said front end portion of said upper heel engaging means is upwardly inclined to the top face of the ski at an angle greater than that of said lower heel engaging means and rearwardly withdrawn with respect to the front end portion of said lower heel engaging means; and releasable locking means for releasably locking said heel engaging means in said holding position and including abutment means mounted on one of said heel engaging means, lever means mounted on said support tiltable between a locking position engaging said abutment means for maintaining said heel engaging means in said holding position and an unlocking position permitting movement of said heel engaging means to said releasing position, spring means engaging said lever means and biased to keep said locking means in said locking position, and adjustment means mounted on said support and engaging said spring means for adjusting the force exerted by the spring means on said lever means.

9. In a safety ski binding, in combination, a support adapted to be connected to a ski; an upper ski boot heel engaging means having a front end portion adapted to engage a top rim of a heel of a ski boot; a lower elongated heel engaging means having a front end portion adapted to engage a bottom surface of the heel; first pivot means pivotally connecting the rear end of said lower elongated heel engaging means to said support and mounting said lower elongated heel engaging means tiltable between a holding position in which said front end portion thereof extends substantially parallel to and abuts against the top face of the ski and a releasing position in which said front end portion thereof is raised from and upwardly inclined to the top face; a lever pivotally connected at one end thereof to said upper heel engaging means; second pivot means located forwardly of said first pivot means for pivotally connecting the other end of said lever to said support; connecting means forming part of said upper ski boot heel engaging means and extending rearwardly of said front end portion thereof toward said lower elongated heel engaging means and being pivotally connected at the lower end thereof to the latter for holding said front end portion of said upper heel engaging means in a holding position substantially parallel to said front end portion of said lower heel er1- gaging means and spaced therefrom a distance substantially equal to that of the height of the heel, when said lower heel engaging means is in said holding position thereof, and for moving, in cooperation with said lever, said front end portion of said upper heel engaging means together with said lower heel engaging means to a releasing position in which said front end portion of said upper heel engaging means is upwardly inclined to the top face of the ski at an angle greater than that of said lower heel engaging means and rearwardly withdrawn with respect to the front end portion of said lower heel engaging means; releasable locking means for releasably locking said heel engaging means in said holding position and including abutment means mounted on one of said heel engaging means, lever means mounted on said support tiltable between a locking position engaging said abutment means for maintaining said heel engaging means in said holding position and an unlocking position permitting movement of said heel engaging means to said releasing position, and spring means engaging said lever means and biased to keep said locking means in said locking position; and willfully operable releasing means mounted on said support and engaging said lever means of said locking means for moving said locking means against the force of said spring means from said locking to said unlocking position thereof.

10. An arrangement as defined in claim 9 in which said lever means of said locking means is a crank lever having a short arm engaging said abutment means and a long arm and in which said releasing means is in the form of a double armed lever tiltably mounted on said support and having a short arm engaging a bottom face end portion of said long arm of said crank lever and a long arm so that only a small downwardly directed force has to be applied to said long arm of said double-armed lever of said releasing means to move said locking means against the force of said spring means to said unlocking position thereof.

1l. An arrangement as defined in claim 9 in which said support is in the form of a housing enclosing said 3 upper and lower heel engaging means except said front portions thereof as well as said locking means and said releasing means, said housing being formed with an opening above said releasing means so that the latter may be operated for instance with the end of a ski pole.

12. An arrangement as defined in claim 11 and including elongated guide means adapted to be mounted on a ski and mounting said housing adjustable in longitudinal direction of the ski.

13. An arrangement as defined in claim 12 and including means for fixing said housing in any adjusted position along said elongated guide means.

14. in a safety ski binding, in combination, ski boot heel engaging means for holding the heel of the ski boot against the top surface of the ski; a housing; means in said housing supporting said engaging means movable between a holding position holding the heel against the top surface of the ski and a releasing position; elongated guide means adapted to be mounted on the top face of the ski and mounting said housing adjustable in longitudinal direction of the ski; fixing means cooperating with said housing and said elongated guide means for fixing said housing in any adjusted position along said elongated guide means, said fixing means including rack means on said elongated guide means and gear means operatively connected to said housing and cooperating with said rack means for fixing the position of said housing in any adjusted position along said elongated guide means; and spring means between said gear means and said housing and biased to move said housing relative to said gear means fixed to said rack means toward the heel of the ski boot, said spring means being tensioned when said heel engaging means are in the holding position thereof.

15. An arrangement as defined in claim 14 and including a guide plate slidably mounted in said elongated guide means; a pivot pin fixedly carried by said guide plate and mounting said gear means turnable about the axis of said pivot pin and shiftable along said axis; means on said guide plate for fastening one end of said spring means thereto; and a spring fixed at one end to said guide plate and engaging said gear means for resiliently holding the latter in engagement with said rack means.

16. An arrangement as defined in claim 15 in which said housing is formed with a cutout permitting shifting of said gear means along said axis out of engagement with said rack means and said cutout being located in such a position to permit disengagement of gear means and rack means only when said spring means connected to said housing is not tensioned.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,396,373 Henrichsen Mar. 12, 1946 2,610,861 Campbell Sept. 16, 1952 2,823,922 Berlenbach Feb. 18, 1958 2,846,232 Schnell Aug. 5, 1958 2,867,446 Rehacek Jan. 6, 1959 2,879,071 (ing Mar. 24, 1959 2,888,692 Block June 2, 1959 3,007,707 Blackwell Nov. 7, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 202,049 Austria Feb. 10, 1959 55,685 France May 21, 1952 (Addition to No. 858,446) 1,206,878 France Aug. 31, 1959 583,953 Italy Oct. 20, 1958 241,681 Switzerland Aug. 16, 1946 

1. IN A SAFETY SKI BINDING, IN COMBINATION, A SUPPORT ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO A SKI; AN UPPER SKI BOOT HEEL ENGAGING MEANS HAVING A FRONT END PORTION ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A TOP RIM OF A HEEL OF A SKI BOOT; A LOWER ELONGATED HEEL ENGAGING MEANS HAVING A FRONT END PORTION ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A BOTTOM SURFACE OF THE HEEL; FIRST PIVOT MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE REAR END OF SAID LOWER ELONGATED HEEL ENGAGING MEANS TO SAID SUPPORT AND MOUNTING SAID LOWER ELONGATED HEEL ENGAGING MEANS TILTABLE BETWEEN A HOLDING POSITION IN WHICH SAID FRONT END PORTION THEREOF EXTENDS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO AND ABUTS AGAINST THE TOP FACE OF THE SKI AND A RELEASING POSITION IN WHICH SAID FRONT END PORTION THEREOF IS RAISED FROM AND UPWARDLY INCLINED TO THE TOP FACE; A LEVER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ONE END THEREOF TO SAID UPPER HEEL ENGAGING MEANS; SECOND PIVOT MEANS LOCATED FORWARDLY OF SAID FIRST PIVOT MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE OTHER END OF SAID LEVER TO SAID SUPPORT; AND CONNECTING MEANS FORMING PART OF SAID UPPER SKI BOOT HEEL ENGAGING MEANS AND EXTENDING REARWARDLY OF SAID FRONT END PORTION THEREOF TOWARD SAID LOWER ELONGATED HEEL ENGAGING MEANS AND BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT THE LOWER END THEREOF TO THE LATTER FOR HOLDING SAID FRONT END PORTION OF SAID UPPER HEEL ENGAGING MEANS IN A HOLDING POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID FRONT END PORTION OF SAID LOWER HEEL ENGAGING MEANS AND SPACED THEREFROM A DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THAT OF THE HEIGHT OF THE HEEL, WHEN SAID LOWER HEEL ENGAGING MEANS IS IN SAID HOLDING POSITION THEREOF, AND FOR MOVING, IN COOPERATION WITH SAID LEVER, SAID FRONT END PORTION OF SAID UPPER HEEL ENGAGING MEANS TOGETHER WITH SAID LOWER HEEL ENGAGING MEANS TO A RELEASING POSITION IN WHICH SAID FRONT END PORTION OF SAID UPPER HEEL ENGAGING MEANS IS UPWARDLY INCLINED TO THE TOP FACE OF THE SKI AT AN ANGLE GREATER THAN THAT OF SAID LOWER HEEL ENGAGING MEANS AND REARWARDLY WITHDRAWN WITH RESPECT TO THE FRONT END PORTION OF SAID LOWER HEEL ENGAGING MEANS. 